Fire extinguisher



1956 A. J. SPECHT FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed May 26, 1955 IN V EN TOR. mm .I swam Unite States Patent FIRE EXTINGUISHER Albert J. Specht, Elkhorn, Wis. Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,385

4 Claims. (Cl. 169-27) The present invention relates to fire extinguishers and more particularly and specifically to improved fire extinguishers which operate automatically upon a predetermined temperature increase in the vicinity of the location of the extinguishers.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved fire extinguisher which acts automatically upon a rise in temperature above a predetermined value to release extinguishing materials which produce an enveloping fire-smothering fog within the enclosure wherein the extinguisher is located.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automatically actu ted, heat responsive fire extinguisher which is of universal function in that it is equally effective in extinguishing any of the three accepted ca.egories of fires which popularly classified as A, B and C types dependent on whether the combustion material is solid (wood, paper, etc), fiuent (gas, oil, etc), or electrical.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic, heat responsive fire extinguisher which combines in use two diverse extinguishing materials which react one with the other to produce a flame smothering mist over a substantial area adjacent the location of the extinguisher, which mist is universally effective in extinguishing fires of the three general classifications A, B and C.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic fire extinguisher of the type described in which the two extirnguishin materials are separately con tained within the extinguisher so as to prevent the corrosive and volatile reaction whici occurs upon their contact, yet which operates to effectively mix the two materials as they are discharged from the extinguisher to produce the effective fire smothering mist above described.

it is another object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher of the type described which is so constructed as to provide external fittings on the extinguisher which permit the quick and easy recharging of the extinguisher with extinguishing materials after replacement of a fusible member which automatically opens the extinguisher for operation upon a temperature rise beyond a predetermined value.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an extinguisher which is of extremely simple and inexpensive design adapted to be quickly and easily supported from any suitable ceiling or side wall hanger for proper location within a confined area, and to provide an extinguisher which is durable and reusable over a long period of time.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will become readily evident to those skilled in the art when the following general statement and description are read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms as relating to a fire extinguisher which includes a receptacle divided into plural compartments for containing diverse fire extinguishing materials wherein there is a pressure difference in the extinguishing materials in each compartment, a sprinkler head is provided on the receptacle and has connection with one of the receptacle compartments and the connection is normally closed off by a heat fusible member, and pressure responsive means are provided within the extinguisher which act automatically after opening of the heat fusible memher so that communication is provided between the plural compartments Within the receptacle to allow mixing of the diverse extinguishing materials as they are discharged through the sprinkler head.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the extinguisher.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through an extinguisher made in accordance with the concepts of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the extinguisher in one position of support for effective operation.

The particular embodiment of the fire extinguisher selected for the purpose of illustration of the present invention is not intended as a limitation in its particular construction and specific details of operational elements, but this embodiment is hereinafter described in detail for the purposes of clarity in understanding the basic concepts of the present invention.

The fire extinguisher includes a generally cylindrical container ltl provided with a central concave depression 11 in the top wall thereof and a conical concave depression 12 in the bottom wall, the peripheral edges of which originate, as at 13, substantially adjacent the joindurc of the side wall with the bottom wall of the container.

A substantially circular center post member 14 extends vertically through the container being welded peripherally in a central opening 35 within the bottom of the concave depression in the top wall of the container end and being similarly secured at its lower end peripherally within a central opening 16 in the conical depression 12 in the bottom wall of the container. The container is divided intermediate its vertical depth by a circular, substantially conical partition 17 which is provided with a central opening 18 which is welded about the circumference of the central post 14, and the outer peripheral edge of the partition is turned to extend in parallel adjacency with the side walls of the container to which it is welded as at 19 thereby forming between the center post and the side walls of the container a liquidtight partition the corresponding planes of which substantially parallel the conical depressed bottom wall, dividing the container into two separate liquidtight compartments.

The center post 14 is provided with a central hollow passage 20 which extends upwardly through the open bottom thereof to a point intermediate the bottom wall and the partition 17 where a pair of annular shoulders 21 and 22 of progressively decreasing diameter restrict the passage 20 reducing it in diameter and defining a second passage 23 which extends in concentric alignment with the passage 20 from the shoulder 22 upwardly through the top of the post where it is provided with a pipe plug 24 for selective access to the top of the passage. A ball valve 25 is introduced upwardly through the passage 20 to seat at two points on its circumference against the progressively reduced shoulders 21 and 22 and an open cage or guide 26 is provided within the passage vertical- 1y about the ball 25 to guide it in vertical movement concentrically within the passage. A plug 27 which seats a coil spring 28 on its upper face is threadedly secured within the passage 2i upwardly beneath the ball valve to be located at a spaced distance therebelow with the coil spring, of a predetermined tension, abutting the underside of the ball valve and forming a spring seat therefor downwardly against the top of the plug 27. The plug 27 is provide dwith a plurality of orifices O which extend angularly upwardly through the depth of the plug to provide communication between the portions of the passage above and below the plug 27.

A sprinkler head 29 which includes a block 30 having a tubular nozzle 31 extending centrally therethrough is threadedly secured upwardly in the open lower end of the tubular post 14 providing communication between the passage 20 within the tubular post and the atmosphere exteriorly of the bottom wall of the container. The block 30 of the sprinkler head carries an open framework 30a which extends downwardly below the extended end of the nozzle 31 and which supports a spray deflector 32 in aligned position axially of the nozzle at a spaced distance outwardly from the extended end thereof. A heat fusible link 33 is positioned in wedged condition between the extended end of the nozzle and the defiector 32 with a restricted end of the plug extending inwardly of the open end of the nozzle closing the same.

Within the container each of the compartments separated by the partition 17 is provided with a tubular stand pipe 34. The stand pipes 34 in the two compartments lie in substantially parallel adjacency with the bottom Walls of the compartments formed by the bottom wall of the container and the partition 17 to provide open ends 35 thereon adjacent the side walls of the container with the open ends of the two stand pipes being in vertical alignment on one side of the container. The stand pipe in the upper compartment above the partition 17 is secured at that end adjacent the centerline of the container within the center post 14 to communicate with the restricted passage 23 therein at a point above the ball valve 25. The stand pipe in the lower compartment defined between the bottom wall of the container and the partition 17 is secured to the center post 14 and communicates with the passage 2%) therein at a point in the passage intermediate the inner end of the nozzle 31 and the underside of the plug 27 which forms a valve seat for the ball valve 25.

To generally complete the construction of the extinguisher a hanging handle 36 is secured centrally of the top of the container within the concave depression 11 therein, and a pair of fittings 37 are provided in the side wall of the container, communicating one each with the separated compartments within the container providing means for charging the compartments with pressurized fire extinguishing material.

In operation of the fire extinguisher it is contemplated, by way of example, that the uppermost compartment within the container will be charged with a fire extinguishing material as carbon tetrachloride at a pressure of pounds per square inch, while the lower compartment of the container would be charged with a metal salt fire extinguishing chemical (such as Karbaloy) at a pressure approximating pounds per square inch. The fire extinguisher would then be supported by the hanging handle 36 either from a ceiling or an upper region of the side wall (Fig. 3) of a room or like enclosure where heat generated by a fire within the enclosure would become first concentrated and in this manner locating the sprinkler head in a generally downwardly directed position within the room or enclosure.

Upon a temperature rise above a predetermined value the fusible element 33 would be melted thereby opening the extended end of the nozzle 31 on the sprinkler head permitting the metal salt extinguishent within the lower compartment to be discharged through the stand pipe 34 and outwardly through the nozzle under the pressure head within the compartment with the discharging chemical impinging upon the deflector 32 and being further deflected by the conical bottom of the container to provide a spray outwardly over a large, substantially circumferential area beneath the extinguisher. Immediately upon release of the pressure head within the compartment 34 below the charged pressure head within the up per compartment the ball valve 25 will be unseated downwardly and the carbon tetrachloride within the upper compartment will be discharged through the stand pipe downwardly within the center post 14 around the valve, through the orifices O and outwardly through the nozzle 31.

Since the pressure drop within the lower compartment upon release of the fusible element 33 will be very rapid, the discharge of the extinguishing material in the upper compartment will occur almost simultaneously with the fusing of the element 33 thereby causing withinthe nozzle 31 an intermixing of the two chemicals and enabling their reaction to produce a fire smothering mist which will permeate the enclosure over a wide area extinguishing any fire therein regardless of the classificalion type of the fire.

From the foregoing it is seen that a new and unique fire extinguisher construction has been provided which embodies novel operation to produce new and useful results in the extinguishment of fires by an automatically operated extinguisher. Likewise, it is seen that an extinguisher construction has been provided which can be utilized in various sizes and structural details without departing from the intent and scope of the inventive concepts herein disclosed.

Having thus described the invention and having illustrated that the inventive concepts satisfy all the objects and advantages heretofore set forth, what is desired to be claimed is:

1. In a fire extinguisher, a receptacle, a partition dividing the receptacle into upper and lower compartments containing pressurized fire extinguishing materials of diverse inter-reactable characteristics, the material in the lower compartment being contained at a greater pressure than the material in the upper compartment, a sprinkler head external of and carried by the receptacle, a conduit inter-connecting the lower compartment with the sprinkler head, a heat fusible member normally closing the conduit,

a passageway providing communication between the two compartments, a valve in the passageway, the greater pressure in the lower compartment normally holding the valve in a closed position, and the valve being moved to an open position by the pressure existent in the upper compartment following the fusing of the fusible member and a droppage of pressure in the lower compartment due to the discharge of extinguishing materials therefrom to the sprinkler head.

2. In a fire extinguisher, a receptacle divided into upper and lower compartments for containing pressurized fire extinguishing materials of diverse inter-reactable characteristics, the material in the lower compartment being contained at a greater pressure than the material in the upper compartment, a central post extending vertically of the container through both compartments therein, the post being provided with a longitudinal passageway, each compartment having communication with the passageway of the central post, a valve passageway positioned in the post at a point between the points of compartment communication therewith, the valve being normally held in a closed position by the greater pressure existent in the lower compartment, a sprinkler head on the receptacle communicating with the lower end of the post passageway below the valve therein, and a heat fusible member normally closing communication between the sprinkler head and the post passageway; whereby fusion of the fusible member permits discharge from the lower compartment through the sprinkler head with an accompanying pressure drop in the lower compartment thereby permitting the valve to open in response to the pressure existent in the upper compartment and establish communication between the two compartments.

3. A fire extinguisher construction as defined in claim 2 wherein the receptacle is provided with a converted cone shaped bottom concentrically surrounding the sprinkler head and forming a deflector for discharged exing each side of the partition, and each stand pipe protinguishing material, and means by which the container viding communication between its respective compartment can be secured to a support for supporting the same in a and the post passageway. fixed position.

4. A fire extinguisher construction as defined in claim 5 Refeiellces Cited in the file of this P t 2 wherein a partition is provided centrally within the con- UNITED S A A N tainer and defines with the top and bottom Walls thereof the upper and lower extinguisher containing compartleloughty g ments, stand pipes extending from the central post latl ascanm erally downwardly within each compartment and parallel- 10 2684121 Llm July 1954 

